Friday, June 17, 2016

As a child growing up – if I ever did grow up – I was fascinated by two characters that were embedded in my Saturday morning children’s television menagerie. The first character was from the Andy Devine Show, also known as “Andy’s Gang.” That character was Froggy the Gremlin.

Froggy was loud, disrespectful, obnoxious, petulant, abrasive, abusive and a nuisance of the highest order. Froggy enjoyed nothing better that to make any and all authority figures – especially those viewed as a pompous – foil to his infantile madness. This certainly resonated with any mean streak that children possessed.

Phineas T. Bluster was a character on the Howdy Doody Show and needless to say that just the last name should give some insight into the character. I do remember Bluster as being just that or a blowhard. A character that would certainly try the patience of Ms. Manners.

Donald Trump has managed to incorporate into his patter the features of both characters and managed to even bring it to another level. The personality flaws are acceptable if they was any content to the brazen shooting from the hip approach that has now defined Trump politics – if can even be classified as politics.

Trump does resonate with some just as Froggy did with me and my friends when we were children, but children do grow up and became a bit more perceptive or in tune to the world around them. Within politics that may actually mean having to put forth cognizant proposals that are based in some level of either broad based philosophical or factual information. I have seen neither.

The old “Where’s the beef?” television commercial surfaces – there is no beef. This is a campaign that is strictly a Howard Beale from the movie “Network” approach of “I’m as mad as hell and I am not going to take this anymore.” If it is anger that motivates then Trump is certainly your candidate of choice.

I examine the two candidates the political parties have presented and simple say “This is the best they can offer America?” The Republicans to their credit have in some instances attempted to deep six Trump – maybe some of it is philosophical and maybe the motivation is an attempt to present an alternative to a very flawed Democrat?

The campaign itself will certainly degenerate into the ultimate mudslinging that represented American politics for much of the 19th century. Count on it as neither candidate has a history of shying away from that aspect. Both sides certainly have an ample supply of ammunition and if TMZ type politics is your game then break out the popcorn.

Trump has nothing to offer. I could certainly buy into his wall scenario, but not to keep Mexicans out, but to keep Chihuahua’s out – I dislike those little beasts almost as much as I despise cats. Otherwise the Trump policies are a wee bit short on details.

Trump was for me easy to dislike and it goes back to sports and his New Jersey General’s football team – another Trump failure. I find Trump as obnoxious as Froggy was now that I am capable of reflection of his entire life is that of a narcissistic self-promoter who simply considers everyone within or outside his sphere as disposable.

Examining the significant issues such as foreign policy apparently Trump’s is in building resorts in exotic locations and for Clinton it is managing to make her tenure as Secretary of State make that of the inept John Kerry appear as vintage John Foster Dulles.

Education you have the formidable Trump University that is to education as the jail bird evangelist Peter Popper is to religion. For Clinton it is the mastery of creating a cottage industry out of the Clinton Foundation that is some type of personal slush fund. Remember, kids, a well-educated society could put the damper on a rerun of these two down the road.

Women’s issue will be a key ingredient and Trump certainly collects his share of eye candy as being a billionaire does have certain advantages. Trump has already spoken numerous times on just how he views females and as for Clinton? Excusing a husband that is a sexual predator shows her contempt for her gender.

The economy will be a focal point with a stagnant middle class, laughable trade agreements, a ferocious debt, a convoluted tax system and a job market that now has a glut of positions a trained seal could do. Trump has started many a business with some notable successes and notable failures. An ability to simply walk away from failure and let bankruptcy court sort things out.

Hillary Clinton claimed she and her spouse were broke despite living in a palatial home in New York. As bill would say it is all how you define the word broke.

I could go on and rattle about a multitude of other issues, but the general conclusion for anyone that is slightly above flat line is we are in a whole4 world of trouble and Teddy Roosevelt isn’t walking through that door.

Trump as president would be a disaster and the real issue for me is that a Clinton one would be the same – a political rock and hard place for the voter. Do you hold your nose and vote for one? Or do you simply leave the ballot blank since both candidates are worthless? Or do you go outside the box and look for an alternative? I will probably go for door number three and select alternatives.

For my local audience the latest misadventure in Middleboro is a flap over a healing garden at Pratt Farm. For those not familiar with Pratt Farm it will never be confused with the Arnold Arboretum or even D.W Fields Park in Brockton. As usual a curmudgeon has surfaced that question if the garden is appropriate according to the purpose described in the purchase.

Now the issue is back with the Conservation Commission based on a complaint from an idiot. Yes – an idiot of the highest order. The CC had already approved! The scope of the utter stupidity even leaves me – who certainly is a purveyor of stupidity – stunned. This is a garden about the same size as two rooms in a house! It will have a granite bench and Pratt already has those. There will be planting of trees and shrubs – this is a park! That’s it! Someone needs to step up and tell this dope to go back to some serious issues.

Speaking of dopes that goes to the Mayor of Philadelphia who has instituted a tax on sweetened products in an attempt to control obesity. Now that is just beautiful. This is a tax and a very expensive one that will sharply increase the price of the thousands of items it impacts. I am sure Mayor Kenny has a BMI that meets acceptable standards.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Whenever I read the mutterings of Elizabeth Warren and her Greek Chorus of supporters it seals the deal for me regarding any sanity from the “Progressive” front. Bluntly put her followers are suffering from amnesia – the very worst kind – that which excuses a history – well documented – that would drive a “Progressive” completely off the rails if it was a conservative or any other evil incarnation of a (gasp) Republican.

What is her crime?

One can put on the collective blinders as the left has or engage in a modicum of research and easily discover a long pattern of pointing the figure at those who have profited from exactly what Warren has done in the past, but that is nothing – just the typical do as I say and not as I do – what frosts my thumbs as I key is the check the box that placed this unscrupulous fraud in the national limelight.

Warren was merely another lawyer looking to move up in the world and discovered a simple method – become a Native American! Check the box and became a minority and with it all the diversity thugs – especially in academia – will suddenly find you marketable. How can you claim to be a Native American when you are certainly not?

You build a family history, but despite your academic ability you are actually incapable of diligent researching of your family tree? Others have researched her claims – you know, the evil ones not smitten with her convoluted populous views – and the credibility does not exist.

Warren could erase all doubts with a simple test. I’ve taken them and discovered I happen to me 100% European despite a family verbal legacy of a Native American connection. That research showed a divergence over 170 years ago and my part of the family was excluded while others were not. Blame it on multiple marriages. Warren will not take the test. Wonder why?

Of course, the response is what one would expect from her ilk and that is to simply shift the argument and accuse the accuser of “defaming” her character and family history. Huh? No – Warren is a liar and they are no other tame word to describe it. The foundation for Warren’s advancement in law, education and politics is built on a lie and firmly supported by her followers.

I find this similar to Manny Alexander a fringe major league baseball player who put in ten years on several teams. Alexander was tainted by PED’s. This was an era before sophisticated testing and stringent controls, but still a tactic that baseball wished to eliminate. Was it enough to give Alexander that advantage when it came down to the last roster spot? I believe so. The baseball stars would be stars with or without PED’s, but the Alexander’s? Nope.

Warren is exactly the same. Checking that box fraudulently opened up access Warren did not deserve. Somewhere another individual who did not play the race card lost out since Warren was now an entitled minority. Despicable.

Political parties have long noted for accepting abhorrent behavior within their ranks and yet pummeling the same behavior within the ranks of the opposition. “Progressives” pretend to claim they are somehow morally more attuned to the needs of all and claim – and wrongfully so – that their policies reflect that. But Warren clearly – very clearly – demonstrates the only morality the “Progressives” display has the word bankrupt following it.

Maura Healey

Super Hack

Hack Hall Of Fame

The AG has just come out looking for a target after The Boston Herald "outed" Healey on her track record of travel expenses. So exactly what did this "hack" do to instill such ire in Bogo? Draft kings!

Draft Kings is an online gaming site that is used for sports fantasy players and fantasy sports is a huge business. Fantasy is also gaming since your success depends on an unknown outcome.

The hobgoblin of liberalism is hypocrisy. Not sure of the pundit who should get credit, but, alas, I am too lazy to look it up. And Healey is an up in lights liberal.

This state has a lottery and is now the birth place of one casino with many more in the waiting room. I can gamble illegally whenever I want since bookmakers are as common as ticks. But to this hack the target is now fantasy sports? LMAO!

For a note on this issue I do not play in any fantasy leagues of any kind. Never have and never will. I wonder in Healey does? Maybe a deeper check into her expense reports will tell.

director of the Bureau of Environmental Health

director of the Bureau of Environmental Health

director of the Bureau of Environmental Health

Your Government Hard At Work

Deval Patrick just lingers on like a migraine headache.

Now it appears his administration had some type of off the grid slush fund that was funded by various departments via creative accounting. Most of the cash was used for travel expenses and other incidentals that the payroll patriots could scrounge.

This, I imagine, will constitute his legacy.

Patrick also was on the take for $7,500 a day from an Olympic Committee formulated to proselytize for this next Big Dig. When Patrick was "outed" that was the end of that cushy gig.